Michael_A

ncermak, I've watched the NBC video a number of times but it doesn't have Wescott's overtaking Zadik near the end (must have been out of camera sight). Can you see the defensive move you mention on the video? Just curious .... Michael

twelsch, What kind of boots & binding angles are you running with your FR2s? Do you ride a hardboot setup also? I am doing both right now and curious about how people are riding their softboot setups. Michael

Hi all, Am looking for a wide all-mtn board for those softie days. I need 26cm minimum and would love a smaller Tanker, Ride Yukon Wide or Never Summer TItan TX or similar .... Michael

I have a Volkl Cross and it works great with plates. I have size 13 ft so I need the width and run at 50/45. The short scr is good on my home mountain which is kind of small. Last week I had a lot of fun in powder on my softie setup so I tried switching it over to the Cross and it was no fun. The cross is pretty stiff so it needs a lot of speed and softboots don't work for high speed (for me). In my (3-year) experience softboots are a blast with the right equipment, conditions, etc. but if you like to ride fast and pull high g's you should be on plates. Personally, I'm going through a phase where I'm learning some new tricks, riding with my sons (age 6 and 8) etc and am enjoying a sofboots a lot more than hard. I think it all comes down to what you want to do, your comfort level with risk/speed, etc. Michael

Anyone out there know what BX racers are using for angles on their softboot setups? I am not a racer but like going fast now and then on my softboot setup. My current softboot setup seems to be working OK for me over a wide range of angles. Currently am at 27/6 which seems to be good -- forward oriented but not too much. Just curious what the "pros" are doing .... Michael

Well, Last year (my first year on hardboots) we had ice or slush all season here in NH and I was ready to sell my softie setup since I never used it. This year we have a lot of powder and my board doesn't carve because the snow just collapses under the edge when I apply pressure. I switched back to my softies and had a lot more fun with a more surfy style (yes, skidding). Do you experienced hardbooters switch back to soft boots in this kind of weather? Or should I try a more "surfy" style with my hardboots? Another 7 inches this morning so I'm heading to the slopes after lunch.... Michael

I thought I was in good shape for snowboarding but recently started a "core" workout program and realized how woefully out of shape in terms of balance, agility, elasticity, etc I actually was. I bet slacklining will really help overall with balance. Think about it...besides actually riding, do we do anything that improves our balance? I personally think most of us have a huge potential for improvement without even knowing it. Michael

What carvedog says echoes my experience/reading---that the coordination/ankle muscles used for good boarding don't develop enough until age 8 or 9, as the body is developing from the core out. My 6-year-old learned how to ski pretty darn well in his first season age 5) but I've said "no" to boarding for a couple more years even though he really wants to do it. Some of his little friends have tried boarding and taken a lot of lessons but are still frustrated (as are their parents who have to inch along with them). Whereas I can carve on the greens and blues with my son skiing! Michael

Hi, Blade 180 is 23.5 wide. I ride a Volkl Cross which is 25 wide. My Mondo 30s are at 50/45 with no overhang. Michael

Just trying to keep things light....here's another Teahupoo shot, kitesurfing. The wall is vertical....if you tilt your head around it's almost like an EC turn!

A headside?

Hi all, Just looking through Donek specs with an eye towards my first "real" alpine deck (currently riding a Volkl Cross as I have big feet; also can't ride too big a sidecut on my little local mtn). There's a 170 Freecarve, 10 meter sidecut, 9.5 stiffness. Compare to 170 Blade, 12 meter sidecut, 4.6 stiffness -- way less. How would these two boards differ in terms of riding style/strengths/limitations? I'm only moderately aggressive; looking to keep speed *down*; not crazy fast. I do want to be able to do the steeps & have to deal with plenty of ice as well. Michael

Try Jasey-Jay Anderson's site, jaseyjay.com, for some GS Michael

I agree, I started this year after 1 yr on softboots last year. On my 20th day out (or so) this winter everything started to click and I went out and charged a wide well-groomed black diamond. It was awesome but I couldn't have done it any earlier in my learning curve. Michael

How about this pic...

My season just ended with a broken wrist 9 days ago. I had the same thoughts at first. My two mistakes were not wearing wrist protection; and not paying attention on a narrow icy trail. Both of these I can modify in future. What helps me: When I have recovered, will I look back and say: would I have given up 24 days carving this year to not have had not gone through this? Absolutely not. Michael

Level makes gloves *and* mitts w/ protection; Flexmeter has stand-alone wrist guards that could go under mitts Michael

Phil, Level -- do they have decent strength/support? Can't see much specifics on their web site, M

Any opinions? Not finding much using search function. Level seems like a big reputable company but not sure how much protection the glove really offers. Flexmeter a smaller outfit but seems to offer much more "substantial" support. Both same price, "designed by doctors". Third option is the "no gomer" but that seems hust too bulky to me. I'll be wearing one of these three after my wrist heals! Michael

Thanks for listening guys! I was heelside; hit my trailing arm...it did happen so fast there's no way I could have "protected" myself by falling differently. Yes, I'll definitely wait until next season to get on the slopes again. Funny how safe it feels to be carving at full speed (assuming you aren't hit by someone else) low with balanced stance; compared to skidding... And now I have a new skill, typing with one hand! Michael

Dang Last Sunday, kind of crowded, narrow icy section of trail. I started a skid for 20' to slow down & not overtake a slower boarder ahead; straightened up a bit, when BAM! Caught an edge, before I knew it my arm was out to break fall & that did it. 24th day out; not like I was jumping, going fast, etc. ER was great, put me out & set it perfectly; no pain so far at all. Sign me up for wrist guards! Anyone been through this, let me know what to expect...probably no more riding this winter; will have to wait until fall for surfing (my other passion) to kick in.... What bothers me most (besides not being able to get out with my kids any more) is the seeming random nature of the accident. Kind of like slipping on your front porch where you've been a million times before.... Michael

Hi, I think I am selling these today....if for some reason it doesn't happen I'll get in touch this weekend. Michael

Jeff, I can't make it Thursday 1/25 but would love to do some demos and see you guys all riding later on this winter! Michael

Gord, I started boarding 3 years ago on a freeride setup then switched to Alpine this year. I have a K2 Union which is a decent freeride board with 26cm waist + Burton bindings; it worked fine for my size 13 feet. Send me an email if you are interested in the board and bindings -- I think each shoe size is another 1/4" in length so size 16 might only be 3/4" longer boot than what I was using. Michael

Darryl, Yes, I still have them ... send me an email if you want more details. I saw your other post about softies on a narrower deck....I started out with these bindings and hard boots on my freeride deck and it really got me hooked on carving. It's the boots that made the big difference to me. After a few days I was putting so much pressure on my freeride that I knew I needed a dedicated Alpine deck. If you are just getting into carving I would get this type of binding & boots & throw them on a half-way decent board (freeride would be OK)...you'll have a lot of fun right away and see the potential of alpine. Michael